Big cheeses battle it out

THERE were celebrations in the Windsor camp at the Nantwich and South Cheshire Show as the Whitchurch cheesemakers were handed the Daresbury Cup for the champion farmhouse Cheshire Cheese, and the Samuel Jackson Cup for the overall Champion Cheshire Cheese.

THERE were celebrations in the Windsor camp at the Nantwich and South Cheshire Show as the Whitchurch cheesemakers were handed the Daresbury Cup for the champion farmhouse Cheshire Cheese, and the Samuel Jackson Cup for the overall Champion Cheshire Cheese.

A delighted Graham Windsor, the third generation of the WJ and TE Windsor family to show at Nantwich and South Cheshire, had no trouble saying 'cheese' for the camera as the results were announced in the giant marquee.

Graham, who describes himself as 'everything from managing director to tea boy,' said: 'Our last big win at Nantwich of these proportions was back in 1995, and we are delighted that a little family company can produce cheese good enough to take these top honours.

'We have two cheesemakers, Paul Holland and Stuart Worrall, who obviously do great work, and just three other staff members, and we are totally self-reliant, producing our own milk on the farm for our making.

'It goes without saying that we are delighted with today's result.'

The firm, which is based at The Lodge, Black Park, Whitchurch, also picked up the Farmhouse Cheesemakers' Trophy.

And the Heler company, from Hatherton, was also among the prizes, taking a first and a second for Single Wensleydale, first and third in Single Low Fat, a third in Single Double Gloucester, and third in Single Red Leicester.

Glanbia Foods, from Reeces Creamery, Hampton, Malpas, had a good day, picking up first and second with its Single Crumbly Lancashire, first and third with Single Caerphilly, first and third with Single Derby, and second and third with Single Cheshire.

Two successes were chalked up by David Williams of Weston Road, Crewe, who took first and second for a Single Cheese containing additives.

Dairygold, of Haslington, took first place in the Grated Cheese class, and Ravensoak Dairy of Burland, Nantwich was third in the Single Speciality class.

The National Westminster Cup for the Supreme Champion cheese, went out of the district, won by Glanbia Foods from the Taw Valley Creamery, Devon, with their Red Leicester.

Reserve Champions were Websters Dairy, Melton Mowbray with their Stilton exhibit, and the Bemis Trophy for the Supreme Retailer Cheese was won by Marks and Spencer.

The cheese show at Nantwich and South Cheshire, sponsored by Cathedral City, is easily the biggest in the world.

David Turner, marketing manager with Dairy Crest said: 'Cathedral City is delighted to have been associated once more with the biggest and best cheese show in the world.

'The diverse nature of the cheeses on show continues to demonstrate the ingenuity and innovation of British cheese producers.'

There were more than 2,000 cheeses exhibited at this year's show, with a small army of 90 judges picking out the winners from more than 100 classes.